INTEGRATED CONTROL CIRCUITRY AND COIL ASSEMBLY FOR IRRIGATION CONTROL

• US 20110017845A1
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Prucinsky, Matthew S., Crist, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/569
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0623 characterised by the set value given to the control element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

An irrigation control device comprises a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to receive control signals from an irrigation control unit and to control the flux at the coil. A spacer is configured to maintain the coil at a predetermined position relative to the control circuitry.

Claims

1. An irrigation control device comprising:

a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment;

control circuitry to receive control signals from an irrigation control unit and electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil; and

a spacer configured to maintain the coil at a predetermined position relative to the control circuitry.

2. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the spacer is made of an electrically non-conductive material.

3. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry comprises a circuit board, and electronic components mounted on the circuit board, the circuit board generally defining a plane.

4. The irrigation control device of claim 3 wherein the spacer maintains the coil spaced from the circuit board.

5. The irrigation control device of claim 3 wherein the spacer secures the coil relative to the circuit board in at least one direction generally parallel to the plane.

6. The irrigation control device of claim 3 further comprising a bobbin supporting the coil and having opposite radially extending flanges, and wherein the spacer extends directly between the flanges to secure the coil relative to the circuit board in a direction generally parallel to the plane and generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the coils.

7. The irrigation control device of claim 3 wherein the spacer comprises a main member aligned with the coil, the main member having a first side facing the coil, an opposite second side, and at least one stand extending from the second side to engage the circuit board.

8. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the spacer comprises a side with a concave surface that forms a recess that receives the coil to limit lateral motion of the coil.

9. The irrigation control device of claim 1 further comprising a bobbin supporting the coil and having opposite radially extending flanges, the spacer having at least one flat surface for engaging the bobbin to limit rotation of the bobbin and coil relative to the spacer and circuit board.

10. The irrigation control device of claim 1 further comprising a curable, electrically non-conductive potting material disposed at least between the circuitry and the coil.

11. The irrigation control device of claim 10 wherein the spacer defines at least one through-hole receiving the potting material.

12. The irrigation control device of claim 10 wherein the curable potting material secures the coil to the spacer in at least one direction.

13. The irrigation control device of claim 10 further comprising a housing generally enclosing the coil, the circuitry, and the spacer, and wherein the housing is filled with the potting material sufficiently to limit motion of the coil, the circuitry, and the spacer relative to each other and within the housing.

14. The irrigation control device of claim 10 wherein the potting material has a coefficient of thermal expansion such that the electronic components on the circuit board are not substantially affected by the expansion and contraction of the potting material as temperature changes.

15. The irrigation control device of claim 3 wherein the circuit board has at most approximately the same longitudinal length as the spacer.

16. The irrigation control device of claim 3 further comprising a housing generally enclosing the coil, the circuitry, and the spacer, and having a curved wall facing the circuit board.

17. The irrigation control device of claim 16 wherein electronic components are disposed at locations on the circuit board to provide clearance for the curved wall to maintain a substantially constant radius.

18. The irrigation control device of claim 17 wherein the circuit board has two main opposite surfaces, and wherein the electronic components are placed on both surfaces.

19. The irrigation control device of claim 17 further comprising a gap with a varying width between the curved wall and the circuit board, the gap having a widest location, and wherein the largest components of the electronic components are disposed at the widest location.

20. The irrigation control device of claim 19 wherein the largest component includes a capacitor.

21. The irrigation control device of claim 19 wherein the widest location of the gap is approximately at a lateral midpoint of the circuit board.

22. The irrigation control device of claim 3 wherein the spacer has at least one pin extending into the circuit board for limiting lateral motion of the spacer and coil relative to the circuit board.

23. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the coil has at least one coil wire extending through the spacer for coupling to the control circuitry.

24. An irrigation control device, comprising:

a bobbin with two opposing radially extending flanges;

a coil mounted on the bobbin between the flanges, the coil being adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment;

control circuitry with a circuit board electrically coupled to the coil to control the flux at the coil; and

a spacer disposed between the coil and the circuit board, the spacer having a main member including;

a first concave surface facing the coil and forming a recess for receiving the coil,

a second surface opposite the first surface;

stands extending from the second surface and to the circuit board to space the coil away from the circuit board, and

a retaining portion extending between the flanges of the bobbin.

25. The irrigation control device of claim 24 further comprising a housing covering the coil, the control circuitry and the spacer.

26. An irrigation control device comprising:

a solenoid assembly having a coil and a plunger, the coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of the plunger to control an irrigation valve;

control circuitry with a circuit board and electrically coupled to the coil, the control circuitry adapted to receive control signals and operational power from an irrigation control unit and adapted to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil; and

a housing covering both the solenoid assembly and the control circuitry.

27. The irrigation control device of claim 26 wherein the housing is a one-piece housing.

28. The irrigation control device of claim 26 wherein the control circuitry comprises an input control connection within the housing and for receiving signals from an irrigation control system for controlling the flux at the coil.

29. The irrigation control device of claim 28 wherein the input control connection comprises a connection to at least one of at least one wire extending into the housing and a wireless receiver.

30. The irrigation control device of claim 26 wherein the housing further comprises an aperture and wherein the solenoid assembly comprises a reciprocating valve member controlled by the coil and moving through the aperture to selectively open and close a solenoid port external to the housing.